Prime Minister… or maybe do just about everything? As I write this now, I have completed my UCAS form and have applied to study English and Philosophy. But how did I come to this conclusion?
Tip 1. Research, research, research… My first piece of advice for those who are unsure what they wish to study or even do with the rest of their life is to do some research. I would strongly suggest making a list of all the subjects you are interested in and any jobs you would be interested in doing. Then spend a couple of days finding out what these subjects are like to study at university, what courses different universities offer, the grade requirements and anything else you can find. This is most certainly the best place to start. Have a notebook with different pages for different subjects and make a list of pros and cons about that subject. It may seem like a lot at first but you will narrow it down eventually. For example, I looked up careers which surrounded my subjects of interest as well as what careers you could go into from certain undergraduate courses. I then managed to narrow down a list of different courses at five universities which I was interested in. In addition to this, I looked at each module from my courses of interest and considered whether I thought I’d enjoy studying it or not.
To further this, I have also found it useful to look up student reviews of certain courses at different universities, so I had an understanding of what other students found to be particularly interesting or difficult about the course.
Tip 2. Modules If you enjoy a broad range of interests like me, do not fret. Alongside the subjects which you choose to study, the university will offer a separate selection of modules which will include subjects outside of your main one(s). For example, my brother is currently doing an English module alongside Politics and International Relations as his main studies, to help improve his essay writing skills. These modules may not be in as much depth as your chosen subjects, but it allows you to explore other areas along with your core subjects. My second sub-note for those with multiple interests is about liberal arts. Until recently I had no clue what this was and had presumed it to be something to do with acting, photography or general artsy subjects. However, this is not the case. Liberal arts cover three areas: arts, sciences and humanities. In addition, its central academic disciplines include philosophy, logic, linguistics, literature,
One fact which I feel is very important to stress here is look at the university websites! They contain everything you need to know. There should be a section for undergraduate courses with a list of every course on offer. From each course there will be a breakdown of what you will be able to study year by year, as well as a summary of each module itself. Education Choices Magazine | Spring 2021
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